Official realignment thread - SEC formally invites OU and Texas to join the conference in 2025

[FlatironsBuff]

The gauntlet has certainly been thrown down. Beat 'em or join 'em are the only realistic options left on the table for the big boys in the B1G.

The long term relationship with the Pac means that they have some allies if they decide to fight.

But we (the schools in the Pac outside of USC and *maybe* one or two others) are facing a slightly different gauntlet: join 'em or take our ball and go home.

Nope. They are taking the ball. We just get to go home. Ball-less.

 

[BuffWarHog]

Do you think 90% versus 86% attendance is a meaningful distinction?

When 90% are watching a dog**** team vs a regular bowl team, yes. And not counting the CU/CSU game in those stats…yes, even more.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Do you think 90% versus 86% attendance is a meaningful distinction?

No, but the point is, if fan attendance and following is part of the conversation, it’s notable that they are about equal while they have both been on the opposite ends of the success spectrum. Of course, the entire idea is that more money, resources and prestige would help CU get back to more consistent success

 

[Jens1893]

SAVE US, BIG TEN!

 

[hokiehead]

CU is a team that allowed a road team to take over more than half its stadium 2 years ago because season ticket holders would rather turn a profit on their cheap tickets than attend a marquee game (for this program). That’s a bad look.

Especially since it was one of (the?) highest rated home TV games in recent years.

 

[BuffWarHog]

1. Not last five years, but maybe 2014-2019 we hit 90% for announced attendance. I haven't crunched the numbers, but will assume you're right given the ammended time span.

1a. Worth noting that the start of that period corresponds to CU reducing Folsom's capacity.

2. 90% of 50k is 45k. That's not an attendance number any big time program should feel proud of.

3. Everyone whose attended more than two games a year over that time knows our turnstile attendance count is severely short of the announced attendance (based on distributed tickets).

https://www.pacifictakes.com/2020/5/27/21272206/pac-12-football-ranking-teams-attendance-5-year-oregon-washington-usc-ucla-colorado-arizona-stanford#:~:text=Ranking%20the%20Pac-12%20teams%20by%205-year%20attendance%201,11%20UCLA%20—%2070.80%25%2012%20Cal%20—%2069.57%25

You’re probably correct on the timeframe n

 

[SINKRATZ]

If the gloves are truly off with the SEC, would the BIG ditch equal revenue share when bringing in new schools? Maybe they try to add USC, UCLA, Oregon, and UW on equal shares then have other schools petition themselves including what revenue distribution they would be willing to accept to join?

This may be a total non starter but am imagining the BIG weighing someone like CU versus Cal and seeing who would take a lower rev share. It’s a little too Hunger Games maybe.

 

[CULifer]

Why is KU constantly being discussed as an attractive option? Football accounts for 85 cents on the dollar. Basketball is irrelevant in this conversation

Same goes for UCLA then. And I agree with you entirely.

 

[Darth Snow]

My big realization is that even though Limo Larry ****ed up the P12 as a thing, thank goodness we got into the P12 when we did. Our situation isn't perfect, but it could be a lot worse. It would really suck being in the B12 leftovers.

 

[CarolinaBuff]

Before the B1G makes any moves I would think they would talk to ND first even though ND has said no to them in the past.

 

[FlatironsBuff]

CU finding a seat at the table would be hilarious and awesome

Can you imagine how Utah would feel after whipping us the last few years and then they get left and CU joins the B10?

And oh, by the way, nobody is asking the real question.

WWSD? (What would Sacky do?)

 

[FlatironsBuff]

Colorado is also a destination state for Midwesterners. TONS of BIG alum reside in this state and that trend isn't going to slow. Having Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Iowa, ****braska*, etc rolling through Folsom in a given year will sell that place out faster than almost all Pac 12 programs.

*Could another reason why CU is viewed as a desirable option for the BIG be the ****braska rivalry?

If I have one request when joining the B10, it would only be that they put the CU-NU game on the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[CarolinaBuff]

My big realization is that even though Limo Larry ****ed up the P12 as a thing, thank goodness we got into the P12 when we did. Our situation isn't perfect, but it could be a lot worse. It would really suck being in the B12 leftovers.

I actually think it might be better if we were still in the Big 12 at this point because the B1G may not want to raid the Pac12, whereas the Big 12 leftovers are considered fair game to them.

Although at this point anything could be fair game...

 

[FlatironsBuff]

Before the B1G makes any moves I would think they would talk to ND first even though ND has said no to them in the past.

ND will have to join SEC or B10 if this all falls that way. They have to be part of one of the two super conferences, and they’ll want to be where USC is. Maybe. Who knows. I’m loving how fast this is moving. Crazy times

 

[leftybuff]

Can you imagine how Utah would feel after whipping us the last few years and then they get left and CU joins the B10?

And oh, by the way, nobody is asking the real question.

WWSD? (What would Sacky do?)

Like brides at the altar.

 

[Darth Snow]

I actually think it might be better if we were still in the Big 12 at this point because the B1G may not want to raid the Pac12, whereas the Big 12 leftovers are considered fair game to them.

Although at this point anything could be fair game...

The B1G gives no ****s about raiding anyone. Being truly desperate like the B12 leftovers doesn't make you more attractive.

 

[FlatironsBuff]

I really want to know Sacky’s take on this. Either he is completely cut off from sports news, dead because he isn’t cut off from sports news, or happy that Texas will go **** up another conference that we are not in.

 

[Darth Snow]

I really want to know Sacky’s take on this. Either he is completely cut off from sports news, dead because he isn’t cut off from sports news, or happy that Texas will go **** up another conference that we are not in.

I have a feeling you know.

 

[CarolinaBuff]

The B1G gives no ****s about raiding anyone. Being truly desperate like the B12 leftovers doesn't make you more attractive.

Hopefully you're right, but I'm just saying that if the B1G doesn't want to raid the Pac12 then that would obviously work against us

 

[Bison]

My big realization is that even though Limo Larry ****ed up the P12 as a thing, thank goodness we got into the P12 when we did. Our situation isn't perfect, but it could be a lot worse. It would really suck being in the B12 leftovers.

Being a Big 12 leftover without the Champions Center would be horrifying.

 

[dio]

CU's main draw is that it sits in the 17th largest TV market (and growing). Do the major conferences want to have zero schools in the rocky mountain region? CU is the obvious choice here. Utah is still too local, not regional.

 

[BuffsNYC]

How is Colorado a prime geographical location in the context of college football?

Two words:

Spoiler

Flat Irons

 

[chipwich]

I miss that feeling of awesomeness after a win over ****braska. I have had about 5% of that feeling when CU beats either AZ school or Utah. Other P12 schools...not so much. Even if the Pac-12 survives as the Pac-14 or Pac-16 and CU is still part of that conference with no real rival, the appeal of being a Buff football fan will continue fading away. Family is full of OU fans and watching the Sooners in the SEC is very intriguing to me so I most likely would just head that way for my football fix. I have zero interest in PAC football and that interest in CU football is on its very last threads. I will still follow & root for CU MBB though.

College football very well could end up being like NASCAR which is a very regional sport instead of a national sport. It will be popular east of the Rockies and perhaps soccer will take its place out west. I have been saying for years that CU needs to add men's lacrosse to fill a gap in spring male team sports for CU but I think it might be time to start talking about men's soccer which is a fall sport while women's soccer is a spring sport. Just do some work at Folsom Field to widen the field for soccer & lacrosse and be done with it.

Go watch OU.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

Like brides at the altar.

quoted for truths.

 

[Jens1893]

I really want to know Sacky’s take on this. Either he is completely cut off from sports news, dead because he isn’t cut off from sports news, or happy that Texas will go **** up another conference that we are not in.

I’m really not sure what his opinion is either.

 

[Jens1893]

Go watch OU.

Only if they’re on ESPN+, which he may or may not subscribe to. He hasn’t been clear on that and what he intends to watch in the coming months.

 

[Jens1893]

Can you imagine how Utah would feel after whipping us the last few years and then they get left and CU joins the B10?

And oh, by the way, nobody is asking the real question.

WWSD? (What would Sacky do?)

The abuser shouldn’t be rewarded for his behaviour so it’s only right the abused gets to walk away and join what hopefully promises a better future.

 

[chipwich]

Utah lost to a Jon Embree coached CU team. That should disqualify them

 

[skibum]

here is where the football players come from.





adding Texas enlarges the pool a bit for the Pac12 but the recruiting action is all in the south.

If UT joins the SEC they likely lockup all the valuable talent in the lonestar state. Since the old Big12 fell apart OU and UT havent exactly been lighting it up either. Right now my impression is OU and UT are 2nd choice for kids over playing at an SEC school. They have a SWC problem again. And that recruiting competition is why A&M doesnt want them joining the SEC.

You're committing a fundamental statistical error here. % /= total numbers. (Hint: DC is not the 4th best recruiting ground in the country, and any metric that implies that is questionable at best.)

Florida is the big one no matter how you slice it up - a high percentage of a big number. But a small percentage of a big number is going to generally be better than a higher percentage of a smaller number. 3.5% of CA and 2.7% of TX = a **** ton more recruits than 7.2% of DC.

 

[Bison]

Only if they’re on ESPN+, which he may or may not subscribe to. He hasn’t been clear on that and what he intends to watch in the coming months.

There are already scheduled SEC games on ESPN+ (mostly against FCS competition) this fall. Once CBS goes bye bye in 2024, there's a good chance that SEC games will be on ESPN+. Also have Paramount+ to boot for those CBS games.

Good try.